Louis van Gaal's first Premier League game in charge at Manchester United saw a defeat to Swansea

It was back on August 16 that Louis van Gaal strode out along the Old Trafford touchline for the first time in a competitive fixture and the Dutchman received a rapturous reception as Manchester United embarked on a new era.

90 minutes later and the mood was rather more flat. Goals from Ki Sung-yueng and Gylfi Sigurdsson gave Swansea City the points and underlined the scale of the rebuilding job Van Gaal had taken on.

Six months on and, on a weekend where the opening day fixtures are flipped in the Premier League, it’s as good a time as any to take stock.

Louis van Gaal watched on as his Manchester United team lost to Swansea back in August

Is Van Gaal any closer to knowing his best United XI and the best way in which to arrange them? No. Are United close to playing with the fantasy of the United of old? No. Are they winning games? Well crucially, yes.

The 1-0 reverse at home to Southampton on January 11 is the only time United have tasted defeat since early November. Of those 19 matches in all competitions, they have won 13 of them.

It’s Fergie form, no doubt, but the record is highly misleading. As United’s somewhat fortunate FA Cup win over League One Preston on Monday night once again showed us, they are nothing like their old selves yet.

Garry Monk's side host Manchester United just inside the top ten but pushing for European qualification

Their forward play was ponderous, their passing was often backward and inaccurate, nobody seemed sure of their positions or roles, Radamel Falcao was useless and chances were pitifully few.

It took the introduction of Marouane Fellaini as a centre forward battering ram and a straightforward 4-4-2 with Angel di Maria switched to his favoured position wide on the right to avert an embarrassing defeat.

Van Gaal has admitted he does not yet know United’s best system but on the occasions when they have stumbled upon something that works - usually in the 4-4-2 form - it is immediately ripped up again.

Still, you can’t have everything in life and the fact United are still getting results means Van Gaal is getting none of the negative scrutiny that ultimately did for David Moyes. You get the feeling that when he does finally get it right, it will go spectacularly right.

Wayne Rooney scored United's first goal of the season but Swansea still prevailed 2-1 back in August

They will got to Swansea City on Saturday hoping to strengthen their grip on a Champions League spot and encouraged by the Welsh side’s recent frugality in front of goal.

Garry Monk’s team have scored just nine goals in their last 11 league games and not more than once during that time.

As United chase goals, Falcao is likely to be dropped. Van Gaal’s patience must be wearing pretty thin and there seems no chance of redemption for the Colombian, who has come anywhere near matching expectations.

Wayne Rooney could retain his place up front, partnered by Robin van Persie, and maybe, just maybe, Van Gaal might stick with the system that served him so well the other night.

This must-not-lose relegation scrap sees both Hull City and Queens Park Rangers boosted by the return of key players.

At present, both sit just above the bottom three but with both Aston Villa and Burnley in action at the same time, we could see a fluctuating situation right through the afternoon.

Second-bottom Burnley face a daunting trip to Chelsea, while Tim Sherwood takes charge of Villa for the first time in their home fixture with Stoke City.

But the tastiest encounter will be at the KC Stadium, with QPR, having at last ended their away day hoodoo at Sunderland the other week, hoping to make it two-in-a-row against a Tigers side who have won just three of their home games.

Queens Park Rangers welcome back top scorer Charlie Austin for the crucial clash at Hull

R’s interim manager Chris Ramsey is boosted by the return of 13-goal top scorer Charlie Austin after three weeks out with a foot injury.

His comeback will also boost Ramsey’s chances of passing his audition for the QPR job on a permanent basis, something chairman Tony Fernandes said was a possibility this week.

‘Chris has an opportunity to be at the club for a very long time,’ Fernandes tweeted. ‘There are no guarantees but he has every chance to build a huge managerial future. We are lucky.’

Steve Bruce, meanwhile, welcomes back influential midfielder Mohamed Diame after three months on the sidelines with a knee injury.

The Senegalese has been out since limping out of the 1-1 draw at Everton on December 3 and Hull have missed his bite. The break for the FA Cup fifth round has allowed Diame to undergo additional training sessions and return to match fitness.

Hull entertain Queens Park Rangers with both sides threatened with relegation from the Premier League

Live on BT Sport 1; Highlights on Match of the Day 2, BBC One at 10.30pm

This London derby has always been spicy and now that the two sides are in direct competition in the upper half of the table, even more so.

Tottenham’s upsurge in form since the New Year has been checked in the past few days with a disappointing defeat at Liverpool and a home draw with Fiorentina that leaves them with plenty of work to do in the Europa League.

But with the Champions League places firmly in their sights still, and home advantage in this Sunday “High Noon” showdown, they will be confident of victory.

As usual, they will look to Harry Kane to supply the winning moment - the England striker-elect has 11 goals in his past 10 matches. Such a reliable striker has been crucial of late, with eight of Spurs’ last 10 Premier League wins coming by a slender 2-1 scoreline.

West Ham stormed White Hart Lane last season, claiming a 3-0 win inspired by a rampant Ravel Morrison. But that result is very much an anomaly in recent meetings between the pair in north London.

Before that, Spurs had been unbeaten in the last 11 installments of this fixture, winning seven, and will start as favourites against a Hammers side reeling from their FA Cup bashing at West Brom.

Their league challenge, which at one time had some dreaming of Champions League football, has faded, with just one in their last eight, and the absence of Andy Carroll through another injury dealt Sam Allardyce another blow.

Southampton vs Liverpool, Barclays Premier League, Sunday 4.15pm

Live on Sky Sports 1

When Liverpool beat Southampton 2-1 at Anfield on the opening Sunday of the season, there were many who feared for Ronald Koeman’s team.

After a summer exodus had stripped them of their best players, some to Liverpool, and with apparently inadequate reinforcements coming in, most foresaw a relegation struggle for the Saints.

Yet here we are at the reunion with Southampton in fourth and Liverpool seventh, with all those fears completely ungrounded.

Adam Lallana, who moved to Anfield for £25m last summer, is conscious that there might be a negative reception in store upon his return to St Mary’s.

‘I’m not stupid enough to think the way I left didn’t leave a sour taste in a few people’s mouths,’ he said this week, although he denied he issued Saints an ultimatum.

Liverpool have not always had the best time on the south coast in recent years, losing three of their last five meetings and there are doubts over the availability of captain Steven Gerrard (hamstring) and Raheem Sterling (foot).

Southampton’s formed has stalled a little and to many neutrals it would be a big shame if they don’t finish in the top four. But Koeman should have plenty of confidence given his side’s consistently good performances this season.

Middlesbrough striker Patrick Bamford celebrates after scoring the equaliser at Birmingham on Wednesday

Middlesbrough vs Leeds United, Sky Bet Championship, Saturday 12.15pm

Live on Sky Sports 1; Highlights on the Football League Show, BBC One at 11.50pm

It the league that keeps on giving and now we have new incumbents at the Championship summit in the form of Middlesbrough.

While their midweek draw at Birmingham brought to an end a run of six consecutive victories in the league, it was still sufficient to take Aitor Karanka’s top by a point.

But that doesn’t tell half the story as Boro managed to salvage a point despite the sending off of goalkeeper Dimi Konstantopoulos late in the first-half. While most of their points this season have been gained through performances of flair, this was down to sheer hard graft.

Championship table-toppers Middlesbrough need a result against Leeds with only a one point advantage

‘I’m very proud of all the players,’ said Karanka after their draw at St Andrew’ s. ‘They know that and I told them after the game that finally we’re at the top of the table and we are there because all of them deserve it.’

SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP FIXTURES

FRIDAY

Wigan Athletic vs Charlton Athletic (7.45pm)

SATURDAY (3pm unless stated)

Middlesbrough vs Leeds United (12.15pm)

Live on Sky Sports 1

Blackburn Rovers vs Blackpool

Brentford vs Bournemouth

Brighton and Hove Albion vs Birmingham City

Derby County vs Sheffield Wednesday

Huddersfield Town vs Cardiff City

Ipswich Town vs Reading

Millwall vs Fulham

Nottingham Forest vs Bolton Wanderers

Watford vs Norwich City

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Rotherham United

They have an early chance to extend their advantage at home to Leeds United in Saturday’s televised game.

Their nearest challengers play at 3pm, with Bournemouth at Brentford and Derby County hosting Sheffield Wednesday.

Not that Leeds will be walkovers. They have won four of their last five matches and could move into the top half with a positive result at the Riverside and another couple of wins and they may finally be able to stop looking over their shoulders.

They have already beaten Middlesbrough once this season, Billy Sharp securing a 1-0 win at Elland Road back in August and Neil Redfearn would certainly take a repeat performance.

Redfearn this week identified Boro as the success story they’d like to emulate in the next couple of years: ‘That’s got to be the target. These sides that are up there and challenging have put two or three seasons togethers where they have planned and built and gradually improved.

‘If we can add better players to what we’ve got now then you don’t now, in a couple of years’ time we could be serious contenders.’

Brentford vs Bournemouth, Sky Bet Championship, Saturday 3pm

But the Championship’s “match of the day’ undoubtedly comes at Griffin Park where, after an unsettling week, Brentford must try and lift themselves back into the play-off places against second-placed Bournemouth.

It was confirmed that manager Mark Warburton will be departing at the end of the season and, despite this, he must somehow keep his squad focused on the task of gaining promotion.

The speculation over Warburton’s future undoubtedly had an impact on Brentford’ s form, with consecutive defeats to Watford and then Charlton seeing them drop to seventh.

While question remarks remain over the club’s apparent ‘continental philosophy’ and the direction of the owner’s plans, their season remains far from over and Warburton must fight to the finish.

Mark Warburton (left) and David Weir (right) are still in charge as the Bees host high-flying Bournemouth

There could be changes to his line-up following last weekend’s poor performance at The Valley, with Jon Toral and Tommy Smith pushing for inclusion.

The Cherries, who start the weekend a point behind Middlesbrough, come into the fixture off the back of two draws which has checked their momentum.

Should Bournemouth win, they would set a new club record of 10 away victories in a second-tier season and manager Eddie Howe this week praised their fortitude on the road.

He told the Daily Echo: ‘To win and perform away is incredibly difficult. Our away form has been outstanding. We have gone to some really tough places and produced some very strong performances and are going to need to do it again.’

Sheffield United vs Coventry City, Sky Bet League One, Saturday 3pm

Their headline-grabbing Cup exploits may be over but this season is far from finished for Sheffield United.

Remarkably, Nigel Clough’s men could yet gain promotion, with the play-offs looking the most likely route. The Blades sit fifth at present ahead of Saturday’s visit of Coventry City, with a four-point cushion for an end-of-season berth.

Their exit to Preston North End in the FA Cup seems to have focused the minds at Bramall Lane, with consecutive wins over Colchester United, Bristol City and Notts County keeping the campaign very much alive.

SKY BET LEAGUE ONE

SATURDAY (all 3pm)

Barnsley vs Crewe Alexandra

Bradford City vs Walsall

Colchester United vs Bristol City

Fleetwood Town vs Notts County

Leyton Orient vs Oldham Athletic

Milton Keynes Dons vs Peterborough United

Port Vale vs Doncaster Rovers

Preston North End vs Scunthorpe United

Rochdale vs Chesterfield

Sheffield United vs Coventry City

Swindon Town vs Crawley Town

Yeovil Town vs Gillingham

Coventry, by contrast, find themselves in real peril. It seems unfathomable that such a famous club, with a modern 32,000-capacity ground could be playing fourth tier football next season, but that’s what could happen.

They are a single point above the drop zone, though they do have a game in hand on Colchester beneath them.

But their form will be of grave concern to manager Steven Pressley - with just six points taken from a possible 21 since the turn of the year.

Saturday’s visit to Bramall Lane marks his 100th match in charge of the Sky Blues and he was in a defiant mood this week.

He told the Coventry Telegraph: ‘I have total belief in what we are doing and total belief that we will get to the place I want us to get to.

‘I have been here for two years and I have faced every possible challenge going in football and never hid from it once. I am as defiant as ever, as driven as ever and I am ready for whatever is put in my way.’

Exeter City, who are currently 10th in League Two, celebrate against Cambridge United earlier this month

Exeter City vs Plymouth Argyle, Sky Bet League Two, Saturday 1pm

SKY BET LEAGUE TWO

FRIDAY

Accrington Stanley vs Cheltenham Town (7.45pm)

SATURDAY (3pm unless stated)

Exeter City vs Plymouth Argyle (1pm)

AFC Wimbledon vs Luton Town

Bury vs Hartlepool United

Cambridge United vs Portsmouth

Carlisle United vs Wycombe Wanderers

Dagenham and Redbridge vs Burton Albion

Newport County vs Morecambe

Northampton Town vs York City

Oxford United vs Mansfield Town

Stevenage Borough vs Southend United

Tranmere Rovers vs Shrewsbury Town

It’s derby day in Devon and in addition to the usual local pride being at stake, both teams are chasing the League Two play-off places.

At the moment, it’s Plymouth who hold the upper hand, sitting seventh after three successive victories without conceding a goal.

They are six points ahead of 10th-place Exeter, who will be desperate to close the gap in front of a packed St James Park crowd.

Plymouth set the tone for a good campaign when they beat Exeter 3-0 on the second weekend of the season, with the Grecians keen to exorcise memories of that day too.

Pilgrims boss John Sheridan want to do the double though, telling the Herald: ‘We have beat them once and we are going to try to win the game. I’m not going to be happy with a point.’

Plymouth have not won in Exeter on their last four visits and, with more at stake than usual, we can expect a tenacious contest.

Exeter City host Plymouth Argyle having failed to win in their past five League Two matches

Barcelona vs Malaga, La Liga, Saturday 3pm

Barcelona have the opportunity to go top of the La Liga table for the first time since they lost to Real Madrid at the end of October when they host Malaga on Saturday afternoon.

With the current leaders not in acton until Sunday night, Luis Enrique’s team can steal a march. Then, of course, it’s onwards to Manchester to play City in their Champions League last 32, first leg on Tuesday.

Unfortunately, City fans won’t have the chance to fully check up on Barcelona’s form as the 3pm kick-off means the Malaga match can’t be screened live in the UK.

It won’t have escaped Manuel Pellegrini’s attention that Barca are in tip-top form, with 11 consecutive wins in all competitions turning their season around.

While Enrique may be tempted to rest a few of his star names with City in mind, the importance of beating Real Madrid in the title race means we’re likely to see Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez involved. All three scored in last week’s 5-0 thrashing of Levante.

Should Messi claim another hat-trick, it will be his 24th in La Liga games, setting a new record to add to his collection. The Argentine, who is in some of the best form of his career in the past few weeks, has scored in his last 10 matches at the Nou Camp.

They are further boosted by the return of Andres Iniesta after a bout of the flu, while Dani Alves should also return.

Malaga have collected just two points from the last 54 on offer against Barcelona so it’s fair to say their outlook isn’t too bright!

Bayern Munich ran riot against Hamburg last weekend, beating the troubled club 8-0

Hamburg vs Borussia Monchengladbach, Bundesliga, Sunday 2.30pm

Live on BT Sport 1

Just how do you come back from an 8-0 thrashing? Hamburg, once European champions and Bundesliga ever-presents, have suffered some low moments in the past few years, notably their brush with relegation last season, but their humiliation at Bayern Munich surely represented a fresh low.

Though 13th in the table, they are skating on thin ice with regards another relegation scrap, with just five points splitting them from bottom club Stuttgart.

On Sunday, they face a crucial home game with Borussia Monchengladbach, who sit third and are confident of Champions League football next season.